Published: March 7, 2018, words by Will Soer

Paris is a site of pioneering cultural work, a place whose mention immediately incites images of distinction in fans of many artforms, but in the past Paris hasn’t been one of them. As Jennifer Cardini stated in her 2012 RA exchange, “we don’t have this club culture like you have in Germany, where you do parties in buildings, it’s very hard to get in France.” In the years since that exchange, Paris has undergone a beat-renaissance, spearheaded by DJs such as Hemka, who frequently plays at the city’s notorious Rex, described by Cardini as “the first club that was a club, and not an old-fashioned discoteque.”

A few years into her career, Hemka has already got a clear understanding and take on the grit that separates modern club music from old-school cheese. Her productions and sets are a seamless, dramatic blend of its essential elements, perhaps best described by the soundcloud comments on her track Hallucinations: ‘bomb!’, ‘boom!’, ‘tasty’, and the most erudite of the bunch, ‘!!!’. Whether focussing on her twin textural preferences of punishing hardness or psychedelic emotion, there’s always immediacy in her work.

As she has embedded herself in Paris’s booming techno scene, Hemka has held residencies in various collectives such as Fée Croquer and Order who combine dance music with ethical aims such as city-wide solidarity and sustainability (the latter of which demonstrates the strides Paris’s scene has taken, by putting on events in unexplored hangars and warehouses). Considering this conscientious nature, it follows that Hemka has provided a selection poised to sooth your ears after a long session in support of All Ears.

Aleksi Perälä

Purple Rain

“In my opinion, this mix between music, vocals and textures could be used in a movie. There are some calm, mysterious and dark steps in the track but also rhythmics and nice melodies that will keep you high after a good party.”

Korridor

Shift #91

“This track is full of emotions, the jerky beat drives us to uncharted waters and there’s no way to escape from this magical swirl. I love to listen to it when I draw or when I just want to turn my mind off.”

Surgeon

Golden

“This one has a special meaning for me. I’ve once closed my set with this track and I can still remember the behaviour of the crowd. We were all feeling special after huge three hours of epic and strong techno beats.”